CVE-2009-1036 in Plus1
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Plus 1 module before 6.x-2.6, a module for Drupal, allows remote attackers to cast votes for content via unspecified aspects of the URI.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2018
The CVE-2009-1036 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness within the Drupal Plus 1 module version 6.x-2.5 and earlier. This flaw resides in the module's insufficient validation mechanisms for incoming requests, specifically affecting how the system processes voting operations through web interfaces. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and its users, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the voting process without proper authorization. Attackers can craft specially designed web pages or links that automatically submit votes on behalf of authenticated users, effectively bypassing the normal security controls that should prevent unauthorized actions.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the Plus 1 module's failure to implement proper request verification mechanisms. When users access the voting functionality through the module, the system does not adequately validate whether the request originates from a legitimate source or has been crafted by an attacker. This weakness allows for the exploitation of unspecified aspects of the URI structure, where attackers can manipulate URL parameters to submit votes without user consent. The vulnerability specifically affects the module's handling of voting requests and demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental web security principles. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to perform actions on behalf of a victim user without their knowledge or explicit consent, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user authentication is required for voting operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for content management systems relying on the Plus 1 module for user engagement features. Attackers can manipulate voting outcomes on various content types within the Drupal platform, potentially affecting the credibility of user-generated content rankings and community-driven decision-making processes. The vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering techniques where users are tricked into clicking malicious links that automatically cast votes for predetermined content. This manipulation can lead to skewed content popularity metrics, potentially influencing content moderation decisions and user experience. The attack surface extends beyond simple voting manipulation to include potential data integrity issues, as the system cannot reliably distinguish between legitimate user actions and maliciously induced requests.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability involve implementing proper CSRF token validation mechanisms within the Plus 1 module to ensure that all voting requests contain valid authentication tokens that cannot be easily forged. The recommended solution includes updating to version 6.x-2.6 or later, which incorporates proper request verification controls that prevent unauthorized voting operations. Organizations should also implement comprehensive security reviews of all Drupal modules to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities that may exist in other components. The mitigation strategy aligns with established security frameworks such as CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities, and follows ATT&CK tactics related to privilege escalation and resource hijacking. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and ensuring proper session management can provide additional layers of protection against similar exploitation techniques that target web application authentication flows.